8. The enclosed Memorandum forms a portion of an exhaustive report on sleeping sickness in Uganda which has been drawn up by Doctor Hodges, and which is being transmitted to Your Lordship under cover of another despatch.*
2086
H. HESKETH BELL,
I have, &c.,
His Majesty's Commissioner.
No. 4.
NORTHERN NIGERIA.
THE ACTING HIGH COMMISSIONER to THE SECRETARY OF STATE.
(No. 613.)
MY LORD,
(Received January 17, 1907.)
[See No. 40.]
Government House, Zungeru, December 19, 1906. IN continuation of my despatch, No. 483, of the 10th October last,† I have the honour to inform your Lordship that just as this mail was being closed I received a report (copy of which I transmit) from Mr. G. W. Webster, Resident in Nassarawa Province, on the subject of certain enquiries he has made as to cases of sleeping sickness and the native treatment of the disease.
2. I have thought this report of sufficient importance to forward it at once without first referring it to the Principal Medical Officer. I will give instructions to him to go thoroughly into the matter.
3. By questioning natives about two months ago, I heard a good deal about this disease, and on Mr. Webster telling me of the native hospital at Loko, I instructed him to investigate the matter.
4. I may add, for your Lordship's information, that the Deputy Principal Medical Officer states that the only known variety of the tsetse fly capable of trans- mitting the disease has been found on the River Niger near Lokoja.
I have, &c.,
WM. WALLACE,
Acting High Commissioner.
5
All these forms are fatal unless treated early. (c) is hardly ever curable; of the other forms it is claimed that fully half recover. In the primary stage it is said to be always curable.
Treatment. On first seeing the tell-tale glandular swellings, the patient is isolated and given a decoction to drink composed of the leaves of keke, an oil-palm parasite, and wawan kurmi, a broad banana-like leaf, found in swamps. These are dried and then boiled down for 12 hours.
2. After two days small cross incisions are made over each swelling and the wound dressed with the leaves of "Yakuan Fatake," first baked and then rubbed into a pulp and dry white ants nest.
This the sleeping sickness "beetle " (sic) likes, but it is poison to it. When the scab forms after seven days it is pulled off and the "beetle" is found dead in it. Two forms are known: one small, white, and soft, as big as a millet seed; one like a cockchafer.
I conclude these are introduced by the doctor to persuade the patients of his powers.
The sore is then healed with a compress of hot "kimba" wrapped in a black turban.
Much of this is probably rank quackery; still, I think it is worth investigation, and, therefore, give full details as I obtained them.
All the patients I saw had these swellings and were being treated as described. All the natives I saw are positive that these neck symptoms and the later stages are connected. There is a special provision for "sleeping sickness" in the local divorce laws at Lafia Berebere."
Cases. Besides recent cases, I know of the following:-
(1) Magi at Loko-treated 20 years ago, no return.
(2) Mallam Oudu of Keffi-six years ago he was just entering on later stage;
could not be roused; would get up and forget what for, &c.
(3) At Jemaa's Darroro-one in mad stage-this man has unfortunately
escaped custody.
With reference to this it is worth noting that the disease is not known here except amongst those who go down to the Benue or to a district where horses die; the natives say of "Ruan Gwaska," i.e., saswood infected water, but I believe of tsetse.
I have, &c.,
G. W. WEBSTER.
Enclosure in No. 4.
2798
No. 5.
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
| | | | | | | | | |
Reference :-
C.O.885
18 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
|ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO
SIR,
Jemaa'n Darroro, November 1, 1906. THE High Commissioner having desired me to investigate a native hospital for "sleeping sickness" which I had heard of at Loko, I have the honour to forward the result of my enquiries.
2. I found the so-called hospital to be a collection of grass huts, "Tunga," situated some two miles north-west of Loko, under a Nupe doctor. There were some seven patients being treated, all suffering from what is known locally as chiwon wia-neck sickness; or chiwon berichi-sleep sickness. None of the people I saw showed any marked signs of the disease, one boy alone having vacant eyes and standing about aimlessly. This the "doctor" explained by saying they were all in the primary stage, the symptoms of which are small hard swellings in the glands of the neck and later in groin, armpit, and elbow. This stage may last for one or two years, it then takes one of the following four forms:-
(a) General debility, loss of memory, skin becomes greyish, patient wastes
away and is always sleeping.
(b) Madness.
(c) General well-fed appearance, patient get sleek and fat. Then somnolence
and death. This is called the female "mache" and is the most rapid. (d) Intense irritation of the skin, no rash-skin dead appearance, patient
grows fat and sleepy.
See No. 10.
† 41203: not printed.
NORTHERN NIGERIA.
THE ACTING HIGH COMMISSIONER to THE SECRETARY OF STATE. (Received January 22, 1907.)
(No. 618.) MY LORD,
Government House, Zungern, December 21, 1906. IN continuation of my despatch, No. 613, of the 19th instant,* have the honour to transmit herewith copy of a memorandum from Dr. W. H. Langley, C.M.G., Acting Principal Medical Officer, reporting two cases of sleeping sickness under the care of the Medical Officer at Akwatcha.
2. Dr. Langley strongly recommends that Akwatcha should be abandoned for a suitable site in a non-tsetse district, but upon this point I will address your Lordship at a later date.
I have, &c.,
M. H. D. BERESFORD,
• No. 4.
(For Acting High Commissioner).